Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Spiritual Direction

From the book "Senderos de Luz" (Paths of Light) by J.G. Trevino, Mexico, 1985.
Translated from the original Spanish by Light House.

THE WAY OF OBEDIENCE
"He who leans on his own judgment cannot arrive to perfection" - Casiano.

Chapter 1
The Importance and Necessity of Spiritual Direction

It is possible for Our Divine Lord to form souls directly and by Himself lead them to a higher degree of perfection but He does not desire to do so and in the counsel of His Infinite Wisdom has not established such pattern in sanctifying souls, but by the ministry of the priest through spiritual direction. It is true that the real Director of souls is the Holy Ghost, as indeed happened, very rarely and not again repeated, in the case of St. John the Baptist, St. Paul, the first hermit, St. Mary of Egypt, etc., but it is precisely agreed that without an authentic representative of the Holy Ghost, we expose ourselves to the risk of taking as inspirations from on high those that are not, but are probably only personal desires or dreams stemming from our self love.

Of this doctrine we have very clear proofs in the old and new testament and in the doctrine of the saints. "He who favors most his own judgment", says Casiano, "cannot arrive to perfection, nor avoid falling in the ropes of the devil".

"Before everything else" - teaches St. Gregory Nicene - "it is necessary to devote oneself in seeking for a good guide and spiritual teacher." "And it is a great pride -adds St. Basil- to believe that we have no need of advice. Let us, therefore, place a greater discretion in this major undertaking of seeking for a sure guide who can show to the souls of good will the straight way to arrive to God.

And do we not see Pope Eugene III, in spite of having been raised to a much higher dignity, ask for counsel from his former director, St. Bernard, and received from him, with evangelic freedom, the spiritual maxims relevant to the new state of life, in the book "De consideratione (Of Importance")?

"Neither be a teacher to your own self" - writes St. Jerome to Rustico - "nor undertake without a guide a road unknown to you; otherwise, you will get lost very quickly".

"Just as it is not possible for a blind one to follow the good way without a guide; so also it is not possible to advance in virtue without a guide." (St. Augustine)



To be continued. Keep posted.